"Live at the Hive"

While our time here dwindles, the wonders of discovery don't seem to end. On Wednesday night we went to an Ethnik (yes with a K) fashion show at a venue called "The Hive"(catch that Lisa?). It is fascinating and is one of three Green and Lao centric businesses run by Celine, a woman from Quebec, and her daughter and son in law. The daughter is a filmmaker. The fashion show featured authentic dress from many of Laos 49 ethnic groups. The runway included 3 separate platforms and the models are all locals. To say that the clothes were jaw droppingly beautiful would be an understatement. To give you a sense, Mickey made no jokes about or during the show, and not once did he complain or even comment that he was missing a free movie next door, 127 Hours. He just stared.

Thursday, today, found us on a wooden boat going 2 1/2 hours up the Mekong River to the Pac Ou caves which are natural caves along the Mekong containing thousands of Buddhas. The upper cave required a climb of some 240 stairs. It s not only home to many Buddhas but during the war, locals would seek shelter during bombing raids.

Along the way we stopped in one village where the artisans specialize in making beautiful paper and silk and cotton clothing. We also visited a village where the principle products are rice whiskey and rice wine. There was a sweet red rice wine which I handed to Mickey to taste. As I would expect, he put the red shot glass in the same hand as the shot glass with the white rice wine. He sipped from the white wine and as he did so he poured the red wine all over his formerly white t-shirt. He made quite an impression. One elderly man makes musical instrument, and played several for us.

The trip up the Mekong was slow and impressive. The river is brown from the sand bottom which is always being churned. Green hills with low hanging clouds frame the river for the entire trip. In spots, the river is very shallow and our long wooden boat had to zigzag across the river to avoid grounding. Along the way there were many raised homes 100 yards from the banks as the river rises significantly during the rainy season which begins in May. We saw some drizzle but no real rain. Fortunately, we saw only a little uncovered sun.
For those who want written menu we stopped for lunch where we had Laab--minced chicken with outstanding seasonings and onion-and a yellow chicken curry in the nature of a Masaman.

Our trip covered 7 hours and every minute was special.

Tomorrow, Mickey takes a cooking lesson--We get to (or have to) eat what we cook. So, this could be my last blog.....